"Don't worry, Sis. I have to get back. The family business can't be neglected. The medical fees will last for a few more days. Focus on treating Huzi first, and I'll send the follow-up treatment fees as soon as possible."
Xie Sui gulped down the water. He was truly thirsty. He hadn't expected the hospital procedures to be so troublesome, involving so many tests and running back and forth. This wasn't like the super VIP ward he stayed in during his previous life, where the hospital staff handled everything proactively and provided attentive service.
"It's so late. Be careful on the road."
"I know. You guys rest. Wen Feng, can you make it driving all night?"
"It's fine. I can go slow. My dad will worry if I don't return."
Zhang Wen Feng was also anxious. The donkey cart was his father's pride and joy. His father wouldn't know how worried he'd be if he didn't come back tonight.
"Good brother, from now on, your troubles are my troubles. If I eat meat, you'll get to drink the soup."
Zhang Wen Feng: "Can't I also eat meat? You're not even trying to fool me. Who would want to drink soup when they can have meat?"
"Oh, you're getting smart. Fine, I'll take you to eat meat."
The journey was uneventful. By the time they arrived home, it was pitch black. Seeing the dimly lit lantern in front of their house from afar, its faint yellow light was exceptionally warm in the night.
Lin Wanwan heard the sound of the donkey cart and opened the door, just in time to see Xie Sui jump down, smiling brightly. "Wife, I'm back."
"I see. How's Huzi?"
"He's hospitalized for treatment. It will cost a lot of money, but it's good that he can be cured. Spending money is a small matter."
"Yes, money can be earned back, but people are the most important. Wen Feng, come home for dinner. I've already cooked."
Zhang Wen Feng waved his hand. "My dad must be waiting impatiently. I'm heading back. Goodbye, Sister-in-law."
"Ah, goodbye."
Lin Wanwan was a little unaccustomed to him calling her Sister-in-law.
While Xie Sui was eating, the door was knocked on again. Lin Wanwan opened it and saw Zhao Xiue. "Mom, why are you here so late?"
"Xiao Sui and Xiao Lan left and haven't returned. I've been worried sick. Did something happen at Xiao Lan's place?"
Xie Sui just remembered. He was so focused on taking Huzi to the hospital that he forgot to inform his mother. He said, "Huzi is sick. Big sister came to borrow money, but it's okay now. I took Huzi to the hospital, and everything is settled."
"Is he seriously ill? Will it cost a lot of money? I know our family doesn't have much. Should I go borrow some?"
After all, Huzi was her grandson, and Zhao Xiue was very worried.
"No need. It's enough for now. I'll work a few more days, and I should be able to gather it. Mom, have you eaten? Have some here?"
"No, your father is waiting at home. I've already eaten. I'll come tomorrow to help you."
"No need, we can manage..."
Zhao Xiue didn't listen and left with her lantern.
Xie Sui was so tired that he fell asleep immediately, with no mood to banter with Lin Wanwan. He slept until dawn, when the sun was high in the sky.
"Dad, the sun is shining on your butt. We've already played a round. Look, there are so many cicada shells. We're waiting for the payment."
"Okay, my son is great. Dad will get up now."
Xie Sui yawned. The only downside of being young was sleeping a lot. In his previous life, after he turned forty, he would wake up at six o'clock sharp every day. Sleeping in was a luxury.
"The meal is ready. Wash up and eat."
Lin Wanwan, who couldn't sit still, had already washed a pile of peaches and was peeling them.
"First, let's settle the accounts for my son. Let me see how much he's collected."
Doudou took out a bulging cloth bag and poured it onto the table. There were over a hundred. "Oh my, so many?"
He had underestimated the children's capabilities. They had been wandering the woods since early morning and had almost caught live cicadas.
"Mhm, we've counted. Seventy-eight. Two cents each, that's three jiao and nine fen. Give us the money, Dad."
"Then you two calculate how much you've earned."
Xie Sui drank his corn grit porridge with pickled vegetables. It tasted quite good, better than the delicacies and shrimp dumplings he had in his previous life.
The two began to calculate, their little faces confused, even they themselves were muddled.
"Alright, stop calculating. Once you've given them their share, isn't the rest yours?"
Doudou and Dingding, cheered by Lin Wanwan's suggestion, said happily, "Mom is the best. Let's go distribute the money to them quickly."
"Wanwan, can you calculate how much money my son earned?"
Xie Sui teased Lin Wanwan. He knew too little about his wife.
Lin Wanwan rolled her eyes at him. "Am I a child that I can't even do such simple arithmetic? Three cicada shells for one fen, an expenditure of two jiao and six fen, earning one jiao and three fen."
"Oh my, my wife is so smart? I've struck gold. What kind of blessings have I accumulated over several lifetimes to be able to marry you!"
Zhao Xiue entered and her expression soured upon hearing him say that. "Xiao Sui isn't bad either. Wanwan, after getting married, you should be guided by your husband. Don't throw tantrums like a spoiled young lady..."
"Mom, I want to eat your egg pancake. I'm hungry."
"Okay, Mom will make it for you. You rest."
Zhao Xiue, unable to say more to Lin Wanwan, went to the kitchen to busy herself.
Xie Sui sighed inwardly. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship had always been a difficult hurdle, and his time to prove himself had arrived.
"Wanwan, I'll handle my mother. If you don't want to hear her nag, go out for a walk. Go to town and buy some food, or sell canned goods at a stall. It will help you relax."
Lin Wanwan thought he would side with his mother, but she didn't expect him to consider her feelings. She was touched, but verbally she said, "What if Mom is unhappy with me?"
"I'm here. It's always better to be further away than too close. Distance creates beauty. You are the great contributor to my family, giving birth to two grandsons. Our whole family is grateful to you, so how could we be unhappy? We're just living under the same roof, and occasional friction is inevitable. Once we save enough money, we'll renovate both houses and live separately, just like before. I heard that the best distance between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is the distance of a bowl of soup. It was good before, wasn't it? A bowl of soup could be delivered while still warm, and there weren't many conflicts, right?"
Lin Wanwan was surprised. "You understand this?"
"Hehe, there's nothing your man doesn't understand. Your man is omnipotent!"
"You're just bragging. Have some shame!"
"What shame does a man need in front of his own wife?"
"Xiao Sui, that's enough. Eat while it's hot. Wanwan, how do you make this? Mom will help you."
"Just peel them. Mom, you rest, I can do it."
"Mom isn't so old that she can't do anything. You underestimate Mom."
"No, I'm afraid you'll get tired..."
Lin Wanwan wouldn't really hold a grudge against Zhao Xiue. As long as it didn't involve Xie Sui, her mother-in-law was quite reasonable, diligent, and not gossipy. She was easy to get along with.
Seeing their harmonious mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, Xie Sui smiled. Having been reborn, what he wished for most was family harmony and for all his loved ones to be well.
"Brother Xie, are we ready to go?"
"Coming."
The hospital urgently needed money, so Xie Sui had to speed up his earning. He would hire Zhang Wen Feng's donkey cart for the next few days. It was the slack season, and Zhang Yu Tian was happy to earn some money, but he instructed Zhang Wen Feng to collect the money daily, to prevent him from being cheated. Xie Sui's reputation hadn't been established yet, so it wasn't surprising that they were wary of him. Time would tell.
They visited two villages in one day, and the canned goods were in short supply. They also collected various odds and ends of mountain produce, wild chickens and rabbits, dried mushrooms and wood ear fungus, and a bag of walnuts, filling the cart.
"Wen Feng, we're going to town tomorrow. Come early. This is your wage."
Zhang Wen Feng scratched his head sheepishly upon receiving two yuan. "Brother Xie, you're giving me so much?"
They hadn't gone to the county seat, nor had they loaded too much cargo. The donkey hadn't exerted much effort, and he felt he was getting a bargain. Workers in the county town earned fifty to sixty yuan a month, which was already a high salary. Calculated this way, he could earn sixty yuan a month, more than he had earned in a year.
"Take it if I give it to you. You're helping drive the cart, so you deserve to be paid. Go home now."
"Goodbye, Brother Xie."
Xie Sui inventoried the household goods. He had accumulated over ten wild chickens and rabbits. The mountain produce was sorted and packed, ready to be sold in town tomorrow for another income.
"Does anyone want these?"
Lin Wanwan was worried. These were items from the townspeople. Who would buy them from their own mountain if they could find them themselves?
"If you find the right sales channel, there's nothing that won't sell. Selling these will be even more profitable than canned goods. Let's go together tomorrow. It will also give you a break. Let Aunt Wang and Uncle Wang next door help."
Girls usually liked shopping. Lin Wanwan was tempted but felt bad about spending money. "It will cost money again. I'll just do it myself."
"Listen, it's only a dollar or two. Learning to use people to make money is the mark of a successful businessman."
"What about Mom..."
"Leave that to me."
Xie Sui manfully made the decision. Lin Wanwan nodded, feeling a sweet sense of being pampered.
At a little past six in the morning, as the sun was just peeking out, Lin Wanwan called out to Xie Sui. "Wen Feng is already waiting. Get up quickly."
"Wife, give me ten more minutes. Please, just ten minutes."
Lin Wanwan put her hands on her hips, a little angry. It was fine to be lazy if there was nothing urgent, but at this critical moment when they desperately needed money, being lazy was too much. She grabbed a cool towel and slapped it on his face. Xie Sui shivered and instantly woke up. "Wife, you're trying to murder your husband!"
"Do you have any objections?"
Lin Wanwan glared at him coldly. Xie Sui immediately caved. "No, Wife, this move is excellent. It's effective immediately, and I'm no longer sleepy. I'm going to pee."
Xie Sui covered his lower half and walked out, hunched over. Young men, especially in the morning, are sensitive. You know how it is. How embarrassing it would be in front of his wife!
Lin Wanwan also remembered something and couldn't help but laugh. He had really changed. He knew how to be shy now. They had seen each other before, hadn't they?
The children even asked, "Dad, why is there a stick under your belly?"
How had Lin Wanwan replied back then? "He can't control his stick, so Mom broke it for him. Don't worry about him."
Poor Xie Sui. Ever since then, he dared not be unrestrained in front of Lin Wanwan. She could say it and she could do it; he was the one who suffered if she broke it.
Today, Zhao Xiue and Xie Dahe came together. The old man was idle at home anyway, so it was better to come and help his son.
"Wanwan is also going to town? Can't Xiao Sui handle it himself?"
Zhao Xiue glanced at Lin Wanwan displeasedly. Was she trying to slack off?
Xie Sui: No, I can. I'm very capable. How can a man say he can't?